Reversible longwall miner



April 17, 1956 Filed July 12 195] J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1956 J. F. JOY2,742,272

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINER Filed July l2, 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 17,1956 v J. F. JOY 2,742,272

REVERSIBLE LoNGwALL MINEE Filed July 12, 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 17,1956 J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINER 5 Sheets-She@l 4 Filed July 12 195] VVA Aflzvezzoz: Jose/fh E Jcy dozfzzey April 17, 1956 J. F. JOY 2,742,272

REVERSIBLE LoNGwALr. MINER Filed July l2. 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 bodimentofthe invention. p

Fig. 2 isa side elevational View of the miner shown nited States PatentO This. ,invention relates to inining machines and more particularly toa reversible longwall miner for cuttlng and dislodging the coal of asolid coal seam.

In a reversible longwall miner it is desirable to mov the machinerapidly back` and forth along the longwallv face during the cutting anddislodging'operation and to provide cutting and dislodging mechanism forrapidly-I removing the dislodging coal onto a face conveyor. Due

to the rapid rate of operation of the machine it is desirable to providefeeding means which may rapidly move the machine through relatively longdistances without interruption irrespective of the-direction ofoperation of the machine. Y The present( invention contemplatesimprovements over known types of longwall miners in `that the abovedesirabilities are attained in an improved and extremely effectivemanner. i

An object of` the present invention vis to provide an improvedreversible longwall miner. Another object is to provide animprovedcutting and dislodging mechanism Yfor a longwall miner.

Yet another object is to provide .improved feeding means for a machineof the abovecharacier whereby the machine may be rapidly moved in eitherdirectionl along the longwall face. A further object is to provideimproved coal breaker means for dislodging-the coal as cuttingprogresses. A still further object is tov provide improved cutting meanscomprising parallel superimposed cutter bars and improved coal breakermeans carried by the upper cutter bar for dislodging 4the core of coalcut by the cutter bars as the machinefis' moved along the face. Stillanother object is to provide an improved mining vmachine having animproved arrangement and combination of part-s. These and other objectsi and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear. l

In the 'accompanying drawings there is `shown lfor purv poses ofillustration one form which the invention may assume inpractice. 1 Inthese drawings:V Fig. l is a top view of a reversible constructed inaccordance with a preferred illustrative emin Fig. l.

longwall miner also Fig. 3).

end of a vertical shaft 38 suitably journaled in bearings 39 l Fig. 3isan enlarged vertical section taken on line 3--3 .l

cutting and ,dis-

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken l substantially online 6 6 of Fig. 2.

automatic coal breaker Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and19 are diagrarrnnaticviews respectively show- A ing the mineroperating in opposite directions along along- Wall coalfac'e of anunderground coal mine.

Y. 2,742,272 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 fice ` Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailvertical section taken substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 1, showingdetails of the feeding means. v i

Fig. 1l is a diagrammatic view yshowing the` machine in operatingposition in a mine with the `machine moving from right to left along alongwall coal face, and illustrating the associated face conveyor androof jack mechll'llSm.

The improved reversible longwall miner is generally designated 1 andgenerally comprises a machine frame 2 movable in an endwise directionalong a longwall coal face and carrying midway between its ends alaterally projecting cutting and dislodging mechanism, generallydesignated 3. The machine frame 2 comprises end-.frame sections 4 and 5having plane bottom surfaces 6 slidable over the floor of the mine andrigidly connected together by an intermediate frame section 7. The framesections 4 and 5 respectively carry motors 8 and ,9 which serve to drivethe cuttingmechanism and providing power sources for themachine feedingmeans as later described. The

`cutting mechanism comprises parallel superimposed kerf. cutters 10 and1li projecting at right angles from the intermediate frame sections 1and comprising upper and lower horizontal plane cutter 'oars 12 and 13about the margins of which endless cutter chains 14 and 15 arerespectively guided for orbital circulation in parallel horizontalpaths. circulated orbitally in relativelyV opposite directions and thelower cutter chain 1S is driven by the motor 8 while the upper cutterchain l14 is driven by the motor 9.

The motorV 8 has itspower shaft 17 (see Fig. v7) horizontally disposedand extending longitudinally of the machine andsecured to the inner endof the power shaft is a lspur pinion' which meshes with anddrives a spurgear 19 journaled on bearings 20 supported by a parallel longitud'mallyextending shaft 21. The shaft 21 is journaled in bearings 22 suitablysupported within the machine frame l and the gear 19 is connectable tothe shaft 2l by a conventional sliding toothed clutch 23. Secured to theinner the upper end of a vertical shaft `26. Theshaft 26 is suitablyjournaled within bearings 27 supportedwithin the intermediate framesection 7 and keyed to the lower end of the shaft 26 is a chain sprocket28 which engages and drives the endless cutter chain l5-of the bottomcutter barv13.

The motor 9 has its power shaft 30 axially alignedwith the motor shaft71 and secured to the inner end of the motor shaft 30 is a spur pinion31 which meshes with and drives` a spur gear 32 journaled on bearings 33supported by a parallel longitudinally extending shaft 34. The shaft 34is suitably journaletl within bearings 35 carried within the machineframe and has iixed to its inner end a beveled pinion 36 meshing with abeveled 'gear 37 (see The beveled gear 37 is secured to thelower carriedby the intermediate frame section 7. Keyed to the upper end of the,shaft 38 is a chain sprocket 4i) which engages and drivesthe uppercutter chain 14. A similar sliding toothed clutch 41 serves to connectthe gear 32 to the shaft 34,l and the clutches 23 and-41 are providedwith suitable shipper yokes 42 having suitable operating handles 42conveniently arranged exteriorly of the machine frame at its top. Fromthe foregoing it is evident that when the motors S and 9 are Vrunningand the clutches 23 and 41 are connected, the endless cutter chains 14and 15 may be rapidly circulated in their Vorbits in relatively oppositedirections.

Each of the endless cutter chains comprises a series of chain blocks 43pivotally connected by strap links 44 and The cutter chains on thecutter bars are r the chain blocks have conventional ysockets wise ofthe top cutter bar.

for receiving the shanks of conventional shank type cutter bits 45. Setscrews 46 are provided for securing the bit shanks within the blocksockets and these set screws may bel loosened to permit removal of thebits from the block sockets and to permit reversal of the bit on theblocks, all in a well-known manner.

The parallel superimposed kerf cutters are adapted to Y arranged withinan appropriately'sh'aped'recess 51 formed within the upper cutter barywithin the orbit of the cutter chain 14 and the coal breaker meansarranged within this recess comprisesV a frame 52 pivoted at 53 on ahorizontal pivotV pin 54 supported by brackets 55 on the top cutteramazes bar. This vertically swingable frame has a longitudinal Y bore 56which has rotatably mounted therein a spindle 57 provided with worm gearteeth S engageable by a worm 59 whereby the spindle 57 may be manuallyrotated within its bore. The spindle 57 has an enlarged cylindricalportion 60 which supports bearings 61 on which a guide rollerV 62 isjournaled and suitable dirt seals 63engage the roller andthe cylindricalportion 69 at the opposite sides of the bearing 61 to keep out dirt fromthe bearings. Projecting longitudinally from the cylindrical portion6l)l is an eccentric portion 64 supporting bearings 65 Von which arotary disc cutter or'breaker wheel 66 is journaled andthe bearings forthis disc are provided with similar dirt seals 67. This disc rotatesabout an axis extending generally length- Thus, whenthe spindle 57 isrotated in its borethe eccentric 64 may be moved arcuately to vary thelocation of the rotary disc 66. thereby to enable penetration of thedisc at Vdifferent distances into the core of coal depending upon themining conditions encountered. The teeth of the worm gears areself-locking'and serve to maintain the disc in the desired adjustedposition. The pivoted frame 52 has lateral lugs 67a (Figs. l and 5)which project within the cutter bar at the sides of the recess 51intermediate the top .and bottom plates orbit near the outer side of themachine frame, so that y the dislodgedcoal is engaged by the outwardlymoving run of the bottom chain andis moved laterally from'the face anddischarged laterally beyond the'outer side of thev frame. A U-shapedupper frame 68 secured tothe fi'arne Y 7 has upstanding sides 69disposed outwardlyof the path ofthe upper cutter chain and serves todirect the cuttings l brought back from the upper kerf laterally towardthe" outer side of the frame.

Now referring to the improved feeding means it will be Y noted thatarranged at the opposite ends of the machine frame and carried bythe-end frame sections4 and S-arepairs of cable winding drums 70,V 71and 72, vi3 arranged on parallel Vertical' axes as shown. Wound'o'nthe-drums V70 and 71 respectively are feeding cables 74 and 75 whilewound on the drums '72 and 73 respectively are guiding cables 76 and 77.Y

1 Each of the cable winding drums 70,- 71 and 72, 73: is'

driven by a hydraulic motor 7S having xed to the lower end of its powershaft 79 (see Fig. 10). a spur pinion- 80Y meshing with a spur gear 81fixed to the drum. The.V

motors 8 and-9 provide the power sourcesfor the drum driving means andeachY motor drives a Huid pump- 82;

which supplies liquid under pressure to the drum driving motors. Thefeed cables 74, 75 and 76, 77 are adapted to be extended longitudinallyin opposite directions from the opposite ends of the machine frame andserve to feed the machine rapidly back and forth along the face and toguide the machine during the mining operation. By the provision of apair of identical cable winding drums at each end of the machine it ispossible to extend one cable to a suitable anchor in advance of theother so that when one cable nears its limit of operation the othercable may take over thereby to avoidvthe interruptions present when buta single feed drum is employed.

The end frame sections 4- and 5 of the machine frame have attheir innersides suitable Vsupporting surfaces for a transposable guard orretaining plate 83 which projects laterally from the machine frame alongthe trailing side of the bottom cutter chain for retaining the dislodgedcoal in the path of the chain 15 whereby the latter may convey theYloose coal lateraly away from the coal face toward the face conveyor.This transposable guard is rigidly secured in position von the frame asby screws and may be readily transposed from one side of the bottomcutter bar to the other depending upon the direction of operation of themachine.

The driving motors 8 and 9 for the cutter chains are respectivelyprovided with suitablestarting and reversing switches provided withcontrol levers 84 and 8S. The hydraulic Ysystem Vassociated with thepumps 82 may includeY suitable liquid supply tanks and control valvedevices whereby the motors 73 for driving the cable winding drums may beoperatedY as desired. These hydraulic motors A78 may be reversible sothat the cables on the drums may be paid out as well as wound in by thedrums.

In Figs. 8, 9 and l'l the longwall miner is shown in operating positionin a miner and Fig. 11 shows the miner together with the associated faceconveyor 90 and the roof jack mechanism 91. This face conveyor and jackmechanism may be similar to those disclosed in my copending application,Serial No. 24,574, tiled May 1, 1948, now matured intoPatent No.2,714,505, dated August 2, 19575, although evidently, various othertypes of conveyors and jack mechanisms may be empoloyed if de- 1 sired..In Fig. 11, the longwall face is designated F and parallel roadways orpassageways at the ends of the face are designated R. The superimposedcutter bars are sumped laterally into the coal at the right hand end ofthev face with the machine extending into the right hand roadway,and asthe machine is advanced along the face by the feed cable of one of theforwardly located feed drums themachine is concurrently guided by one ofthe cables of the rearwardly located drums. In Fig. 11, the

Vfeed cable -74vis Ashown nearly completely wound in by its drum-withthefeed cable 75 in position to take over the feed of themachine fromthe cable 74 and, in like manner, the guiding cable 76 is shown nearlycompletely paid outfrom' its drum` with the cable 77 in position to takeover thev guiding function of the machine. As the super- 'imposed cutterbars are moved laterally along the coal face a projection or core ofcoal, designated C in Fig. 3, is being broken down from the face by thebreaker means 50. The roller 62 of the breaker means runs in the kerfcut by the Vupper cutter chain in engagement with the bottom wall of thekerf and the breaker disc 66 cuts into the upper. portion of the core ofcoal between the kerfs neark its point of attachment with the solid seamto apply a splittingforce to the core along lines generally parallel tothe coal face thereby to dislodge fragments of the core asV cuttingprogresses. The longerV bottom cutter chain 15 and its cooperating guard83 serve to move and direct the` dislodged coal laterally from the facetowardthe face conveyor 90. In Fig. 9 the machine is shown cutting fromleft to right and, irrespective ofthe direction in which the machine is`operated,'. when the machine reaches the end i of the face the cutterbits are reversed .on their respective The feeding and guiding cablesare extended to jacks located at different distances along the coal faceas shown inFigs. 8, 9 and 11, so that when one feed cable is wound in byits drum and one guiding cable is completely paid out, the other feedingand guiding cables may take over to effect feeding and guiding of themachine without interruption in the machine movement. As the coal ismined out the-walking jacks 91 may be advanced toward the face in themanner shown at the right in Fig. ll.

Asa result of this invention an improved reversible longwall miner 'isprovided having improved'features of construction whereby the coal of asolid coal seam may be rapidly mined out in an extremely ecient manner.By the provision of the parallel superimposed cutter bars and theparticular cutter chain arrangement and the associ-A ated breaker meanscarried by the upper cutter bar the coal may be rapidly cut to form acore between the parallel kerfs and the core may be rapidly dislodgedfrom the coal face as cutting progresses. The improved coal breakermeans is not only efficient in operation but is also relatively smipleand compact in design. By the provision of the improved feeding andguiding means the machine may be fed and guided during its operationalong the coal face without the need for interruption due to therepositioning of the cable jacks. These and other advantages of theinvention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be' understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or thescope of the appended y claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mining machine comprising parallel superimposed narrow elongatedkerf cutters movable in a direction extending transversely of theirlengths for cutting parallel kerfs in a solid coal seam to form ahorizontal projection of coal between the kerfs, and coal breaker meanscarlried bythe top kerf cutter for dislodging fragments of said coalprojection as cutting progresses, said breaker means including a rotarybreaker disc journaled to rotate freely about an axis extendinggenerally lengthwise of said upper kerf cutter and having a sharpenedcircular penetrating edge, and an adjustable mounting carried b y saidupper kerf cutter and including an element on which said disc isjournaled and mounted to move in vertical planes lrelative to said upperkerf cutter for changing the vertical position of the disc-axis withrespect to said upper kerf cutter to vary the splitting action of saiddisc on the coalprojection, said mounting confining said disc-axis inall positions of movement of said disc vertical planes extendinglengthwise of said upper kerf cutter.

2. A mining machine comprising parallel superimposed kerf cutters forcutting parallel kerfs in a solid coalseam to form a horizontalprojection of coal between the kerfs, and coal breaker means carried bythe top kerf cutter for dislodging-fragments of said coal projection ascutting progresses, said breaker means including a rotary breaker discjounaled to rotate freely about an axis extending generally lengthwiseof ysaid upper kerf cutter and having a sharpened circular penetratingedge and a support pivotally mounted on said upper kerf cutter to swingin a vertical direction relative thereto and on which said rotarybreaker disc is journaled.

3. Coalbreaker means as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pivotedsupport has a bore in which a spindle is rotatably mounted and whereinan eccentric is provided on said spindle and means is supported by saideccentric for journaling said disc thereon, and means is provided forrotating said spindle to move said eccentric arcuately 6 thereby to varythe operating position of said disc with respect to said upper kerfcutter.

4. A coal breaker means as set forth in claim 2, where- 1 said cutterseach comprising a horizontal plane cutter bar Y having'an endless cutterchain guided for orbital circulation about its margin, the bottom kerfcutter being of greater length than said upper kerf cutter and havingits chain travel in the'opposite direction from the upper cutter chainand extending in its orbit to the side of the machine frame remote fromthe coal face, and means cooperating with the upper kerf cutter fordislodging fragments of said core of coal as cutting progresses, saidchain of said longer bottom cutter moving the dislodged coal laterallyaway from the coal face beyond the outer side of said frame, said frameproviding an open space at said side thereof remote from the coal face,said bottom chain discharging therdislodged coal into said space remotefrom right angles to the frame pivot axis.

the coal face as the machine is advanced along the face.

6. A mining machine as setfforth in claim 5, wherein a guard is mountedonsaid frame and extends laterally from Y l the inner face side of saidframe along the trailing side of said bottom cutter chain for confiningthe dislodged coal in the path of the latter whereby the dislodged coalis directed towardpsaid space for` discharge laterally from theouterside of said frame.

7. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a

coal breaker comprising a rigid horizontal support movablelaterally in ahorizontal kerf formed in a solid coal seam, a frame pivotally mountedon said support, and a coal breaker disc freely rotatably mounted on theouter l portion of said pivoted frame to turn about an axis` at 8. Acoal breaker as set forthv in claim 7, wherein means is, provided foradjusting the operating Yposition of lsaid disc with respect to saidpivoted frame.

9. A coal breaker as set forth in claim 8 whereinmeans is provided formaintaining the axis off-*rotation of said disc parallel to the majoraxis of said support whilein the different adjusted positions thereof.

10. A coal breaker as set forth in claim 9 wherein said adjusting meanscomprises an eccentric mounting for said disc.y

1l. A .coal breaker as set forth in claim 7, wherein a guide roller isjournaled on said pivoted frame with its axis in parallelism with thedisc axis and located on said frame intermediate the frame pivot andsaid disc.

12. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, core cutting meanscomprising parallel narrow elongated kerf cutters for cutting parallelkerfs in the coalof a solid coal seam to form a core of coal betweensaid kerfs, and breaker means carried by one of said cutters includilnga breaker element Afor applying a splitting force to the core of coalnear'its point of attachment with the solid seam, and an adjustablemounting structure including an element carried by said one of saidcutters and on which said breaker element is mounted, said adjustableelement mounted for movement relative to said kerf cutters for adjustingsaid breaker element in vertical planes with respect thereto to vary thedepth of penetration of said breaker element in the core thereby to Varythe splitting action of said breaker element on the coal.

13. A. mining machine as set forth in claim l2, wherein said movableelement of said mounting structure and said breaker element are'locatedwith respect to said one of said kerf cutters so that said breakerelement applies the afm-2,2m

splittingv forcev to the core. ;of. coal` along. lines extending. v

generally at right angles tozthe. longitudinal axes of sai'dAkerfacutters. f l14. In a miningmachine including a horizontal planecutter barhaving an endless cutter chain guided for orbital Vcirculationabout its margin, saidbar havinganopening therethrough within the orbitof saidv chain, and a coal breaker device mounted on said cutter bar insaid baropening and including anV armlike framepivoted at one end toSwinginv vertical planes about a transverse axis located near the rearwall-of said. opening andarotary breaker journaled at the opposite endof said armlike frame to revolve about an axis extending generallylengthwise of said bar at rightangles-to said framepivotaxis. Y' .15. Amining machine as set-forth in claim 14 whereinV zin-adjustable mountingstructure is .provided for said rotary breaker on said armlike frame.for adjusting said rotary breaker in avertical direction relative tosaid armlike .frame to vary the vertical position of said rotary.

mine vein, a rotary breaker, a mountingstr'ucture for said breaker onsaid. cutter bar and disposed within-.the orbit of said chain forlimited movement in vertical planes with respect to said bar and aroller carried by said mounting structure for guiding said breaker as itmoves within the kerf.

17. In combination, a narrow elongated horizontal kerf cutter forcutting a horizontal kerf in a mine vein, Vand mineral breaker meanscarried-by said kerf cutter for dislodging fragments .of the mineral ofsaid vein as cutting progresses, said breaker means including a rotarybreaker wheel projecting from` the bottom of said lcutterfand Yjournaled on said cutter to rotate freely about an axis extendinggenerally lengthwise of said cutter, and aoating mounting structurecarried-by said kerf cutter. and on which said. breaker wheel isjournaled', said mounting structure having limited floating movement invertical planes relativeV to said cutter, said mounting Vstructurecon-VV ning the axis of said wheel; in a longitudinalvertical planeextending lengthwise ofsaid cutter. 18. A combination as set forth inclaim 17 wherein ksaid mounting structure for said'breaker wheelcomprises anielementhaving oating. movement relative toi saidv cutter toprovide for limited freedom of movement of said YWheel in vertical.planes with respect tov said cutter and confiningthe wheel-axis in oneof such vertical planes, said cutter providing means for limiting suchfloating move' ment of Said element in;either direction.

19. A mining machine comprising a narrow elongated horizontal kerfcuttermovable in a direction extending transversely of its length for cuttinga horizontal kerf in a solidcoalseam,-and coal breaker means carried bysaid kerr cutter for dislodging fragments of coal beneath said kerf ascutting progresses, saidl breaker means including aVV rotary breakerdisc journaled to rotate freely about an axis lying la. vertical planeextending generally length- Wise of said kerf cutter in parallelism withthe .major axis of the latter, said disc having a sharpened circularpenetrating edge and an adjustable mounting. structure'carried' by saidkerf cutter and on which said disc is journaled, said mounting structureincluding a disc-supporting element mounted to move in vertical 'planesVrelative to said kerf cutter for changing the vertical position of saiddisc with respect to said korf cutter to vary the splitting action ofsaid disc on the coal, said mounting structure confining the disc-axisina vertical plane extending lengthwise of said kerf cutter,

RcferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITEDv STATES PATENTS 17,650Wilson June 23, 1857 747,869 Drake Dec. 22, 1903. 1,199,757 BoardmanOct. 3, 1916 1,285,332 `Noble Nov. 19, 191,8 1,404,835 Christine lan.31,` 1922 2,261,162 Ioy Nov. 4, 1941 2,269,781 Osgood lan. 13,19422,287,230 Cartlidge lune 23, 1942 2,291,633 Joy Aug. 4, 1942 2,415,217Osgood Feb. 4`, 1947 2,528,748 Greene Nov. 7, 1950 2,550,202 RobbinsApr. 24, 1951 2,637,543 Lee May 5, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,086V GreatBritain Sept. 14, 1904 Great Britain I an. 22, 1948

